Nipple-making machine.



No. 868,167. PATENTBD 0.0T. 15,1901:

' w. w. DOOLITTLB.

NIPPLE MAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED was. 1900.

a HERBS-SEEM www I Q a m No. 868,167. PATENTED OCT. 15, 1907. W. W. DOOLITTLE.

NIPPLE MAKING MACHINE. urmoumx FILED we. 0. 100a.

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PATENTED OCT. 15, 1907.

W. W. DOOLITTLE. NIPPLE MAKING MAGHINB.

APPLICATION FILED we 9, 1900 No. 868,167. 'PATBNTBD OCT. 15, .1907.

W. W. DOOLITTLB.

NIPPLE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9. 1906.

' 8 SHEETS-.BHEBT 4.

. iii 3.44,

w. w. DOOLITTLE.

NIPPLE AKING MAGHINB. APPLIOATIQH FILED AUG. 9, 1906.

PATENTED 0GT. 15,'1907.'

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IIVIIITOR MQSM No. 868,167. PATENTED OCT. 15, 1907.

. W. W. DOOLITTLE. v

NIPPLE MAKING MAGHINB.

. APPLIOA'I'IOI FILED AUG. 9. 190B.

8 8HEETBBHEET 6.

" Y mmfawaz INVEN'I'OR PATENTED 0011.15, 1907.

W. w. DOOLITTLE.

NIPPLE MAKING MACHINE;

APPLICATION rum: we. 0. 190a.

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VENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE."

WILLIAM W. DOOLITTLE, OI EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CRANE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

NIPPLE-MAKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15, 1907.

Application filed August 9,1906. Serial No. 329,889.

tain new and useful Improvements in Nipple-Making Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to nipple making machines and has for its objects; to provide an improved machine adapted to produce tapered nipples rapidly and continuously from ablank pipe;.,t0 provide a machine in which the direction of movement of the cutting dies is such that the desired taper is secured without any additional transverse feeding mechanism; to provide a posi- .tive and accurate threading mechanism with a smaller of the invention is shown in thexaccompanying draw-" ings in which,

, Figure l is a plan view, Figure 2 is a side elevatibn'and section, the section being of the lower half of the machine along the line 11- 1]. of Figurel,

Figure 3 is a transverse section through the machine on the line 11 1,- 1l1 of Figure 2, and shows in elevation the supporting members for the dies with such dies removed,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but with the diesin place upon the die supporting members,

tion.

Figure 5 is an elevation of the right hand end of the -machine, v 4 v r vFig'uresfi and 7 are enlarged detailed elevations of the threading members, Figure 7 being broken away at the end to show the dieadjusting means, Y

Figures 8 and 9 are detail views of the supporting members for thethreading means, Figure 8 beings. side elevation and Figure fiaplan view,

I longitudinal section through the ieediugmcnaiiism, v

Figure 11 is a sideelevation' of the stock engaging rod, Figure 12 is a side elevation and section through-the stop sleeve, V. v Figure 13 is an enlarged detail. of the pipe after the v tapered threads are cut, showing by dotted lines X-X' 50 the points-at which the blank is cut to form the-nipples, Figurp 14 is a detail, view of the pipe and cutting off tools,

K Figure 15 is a'detail view of the tpols in cuttingpo'si- The machine is designed topro duce the ordinary countershaft N threaded nipples which taperfrom the center to'the end (see Figure 13) from continuous stock, ahd the machine comprises a mechanism for clamping and rotating the blank or pipe and feeding it step by step to the threading mechanism, threading mechanism comprising oscillatory arms swinging longitudinally of the axis of the stock for producing the pitch of the thread, and securing the desired taper, and means for cutting the nipples off at the lines marked X-X in Figure 13, together with stop mechanism for positioning the pipe when the rotating clamp is released and the stock fed along'in-. termediate the threading operations. An alternative form of machine for forming similar nipples is shown in my co-pending application No. 329,988.

Describing first the principal parts of .the machine briefly, and referring particularly to the general views 1, 2 3,- 4, and 5, A is the frame ofthemachine, ,B is the rod feeding means (Figure 2, and in detail in Figure 10), C is the clamping mechanism for rotating the pipe after the feeding and during the threading operation, D are theoscillatory arms, four in number, which carry the shown in Figure 13, E are the supporting means for the oscillatory threading arms which supporting means are adapted to be moved outwardly at intervals, to allow the threading dies to return to their starting points after the length of a nipple has been cut, F is the mechanism for periodically opening and closing the supporting means for the dies after each forward movement thereof, G is the sleeve for supporting the'threaded portion of the pipe intermediatethe threading dies and the cutting off mechanism, which sleeve isrotated in the direction of rotation of the pipe in order to avoid injury to the threads formed thereon, H is the stop mechanism having means forengaging the end of the pipe, which ,sto'p moves back step by step, until the nipples commence to be severedafter which time the stop remains statimary, K isthe transversely reciprocatory carriage upon whichthe cutters for severing the nipples from the stock are mounted, L, is the mechanism for oscillating the ends ofthe-threading armsand includes a phirality of backwardly extending rods secured to a collar mounted coaxial with the feeding axis'and operable by its rotation, M is the main shaft carrying the driving pulley, is the countershaft carrying the cams for opening andclosing the clamping jaws ,C, the cam for ,operating theclosing mechanisms F, the cam for operatthe stopmechanism H, and the cam for operating the reciprocato'ry .cntter carriage K and O is the train gearing'for connecting The general arrangement having been outlined, a .de-

the main shaft M'with the tailed description of the parts will now be given, referring first to the clamping mechanism C (Figure 2), which mechanism intermittently clamps and rotates the blank pipe which has been fed thereto. This mechz anism as shown, comprises two opposing jaws which are rotated from the drive shaft M which carries the drive pulley 1, by means of the gear 2 on the shaft M meshing with the gear 3 keyed to the hollow shaft 4, which shaft 4 has an enlarged end portion 5 to which the two clamping jaws C are pivoted at 6. The jaws are provided with the operating levers 7 which are adapted to be swung outwardly by means of the camrning member 8 slidably mounted upon the shaft 4, which member 8 is provided with a grooved wheel 9 engaging the end of the operating lever 10, the other end of such operating lever being in engagement with the cam groove of the wheel 11, which wheel 11 is mounted on the countershaft N heretofore referred to. It will be seen that by this means the clamping jaws O are periodically opened and closed, thereby releasing and engaging the pipe extending through the shaft 4. The mechanism by which the stock is fed through the shaft 4 and the jaws C when such jaws are opened, is shown in detail in Figure 10. As shown in this figure the member 12 is provided for pushing the pipe forward which member 12 is provided at its front end with the head 13 havor blank and the engaging'member. The member 12 is advanced through the shaft 4 by means of the weight (not shown) which is secured to a cable passing overthe wheel 15 and engaging the upturned end 16 of the memher 12. This provides a means constantly tending to feed the pipe P forward against the stop mechanism H whenever the clamping jaws C which rotate the pipe are opened. In order that the member 12 may be properly guided and supported, an additional pipe member 18 is fitted in the shaft 4 provided with a slot upon its upper side to which the upturned portion 16 is adapted to slide.

The threading mechanism will next be described, reference being had particularly to the general views of Figures 2, 3. and 4, and the detail views of the threading arms and threading arm brackets shown in Figures 6 to 9. As shown in the drawings (Figure 41, four cutting or threading arms D are preferably used. although it will be apparent that a greater or less number might be used if desired, which threading arms D are pivotally mounted, two upon the upper supporting member E and two upon the lower member E which members E are movable toward and from the axis of the pipe by a mechanism and for a purpose to be more fully. described, hereafter. The members EE are provided upon their faces with removable projecting brackets 17 provided with bearings 18 between which bearings the threading arms D (Figures 4. (Land 7) are pivotally mounted for oscillation in planes longitudinal of the axis of the pipe, and carry at their outer ends projecting pivot pins 19 for engaging the connecting rods 20 which constitute a part of the threading operating mechanism, heretofore referred to as the mechanism 11.

The connecting rods 20 are all pivotally secured at their A rear ends to the slidable collar 21 mounted for longitudinal movement along the feeding axis 4, which collar 21 is normally held in its position to the left, by means of the pivoted crank 22 engaging the collar at one end and carrying on its free arm the weight 23. In order to feed the collar 2] to the right and thereby move the dies on the cutter arms D to the left for the threading operation, the collar 21 is provided with rollers 24 at its rear side, which rollers are in position to engagea cam 25 which cam is adapted to revolve slowly, thereby feeding the connecting rods 20 to the right and causing the die to pass over the blank pipe, thus threading the length of a nipple. The cam 25 is so shaped that the rods 20 are reciprocated once for each revolution of the ca1n, the weight 23 holding the rollers on the collar 21 constantly in engagement with the cam surface. The cam member 25 is secured to the sleeve 26 which is coaxial with the sleeve 4 and the sleeve 26 carries upon its end the gear 27 which gear 27 is driven from the main shaft M by means of the following train of gearing; the gears 2 and 3 mounted upon the main shaft and the shaft 4 respectively, the gear 28 keyed to the end of such shaft 4, the gears 29 and 30 mounted to rotate together upon the stud 31, and the gear 32 mounted loosely upon the end of the countershaft 33 which countershaft 33 extends parallel of and immediately beneath the shaft M of Figure l, which gear 32 engages the gear 27 thereby revolving the sleeve 26 with its cam 25. In order that the position of the threading cut may be varied, the rods 20 are each provided with turnbuckles 34 for changing the length of such rods. It will be apparent from the foregoing that as the peripheries of the threading dies move in arcs of circles longitudinally of the pipe, the blank is threaded in a succession of curved portions with the parts Y of larger diameter (Figure 13), and when thenipples are cut off on the line X-X' they will not be tapered on an exact straight line but such line of taper is sufficiently near astraight line to serve the purpose. After the ends of the threading arms have been fed along the rotating pipe there-by cutting a nipple and after such threading operation the pipe has been fed forward the length of anothernipple, it will be seen that the diescannot be swung back to their starting point without interference with the blank unless means are provided for moving the axes of the various cutting arms outwardly with respect to the pipe. The means for accomplishing this result is the mechanism'E, F, shown in Figures 3, 4, 8, and 9, and "as here shown each of the members E E are pivotally connected at one end by means of the link 35 and the pivots 35 passing through the link, the parts EE and the supporting plates 35 (Figure 1) which plate 35 is secured to the frame A. The other ends of such supporting members E -E are provided with means whereby such ends may be periodically separated and brought together. On the face of the members EE are bolted the brackets 17 -17 each of which brackets carries a pair of bearings 18 for the reception of the axis I end to the member 37 and rests pivotally at its upper end against the under side of the upper member E. The members E are also held normally in separated position by means of the spring 39 interposed-in the recesses between the faces of such members. The means for dlosing the members against the tension of the spring 39 preliminary to each forward movement of the cutting dies is shown most clearly in Figure 3 and as there shown, the opposing free ends of the members E are provided with oppositely disposed cam membersAO, which members are adapted to be operated by the oscillation of the cams 40 on the pivoted Operated lever T .41, which member is rotatably mounted intermediate its ends on the pivot 42 carried on a projecting lug 42" with the gear 50 adjacent the cam member 25 keyedupon the sleeve 26 (Figure 2). l

The threading arms are shown in detail in Figures 5 and 6- by reference to which, it will be noted that the arm is provided intermediateits ends with the pivotal opening 51 upon which the arm is to be oscillated and at its outer end with the opening 51 for the p vot pin 19 heretofore referred to. The inner end of the arm is transversely recessed at 52 as indicated, which recess is open 11 one side for the engagement of the clamping member 53. The die 54' is seated againsta block 55 which block 55 is held from longitudinal movement by its engagement with the clamping bolt 56- which passestransversely through the arm. The upper portion of the recess 52 is dovetailed in such a way as to form an "overhanging recess for the die 54 and such die 54 is construction indioat held tightly pressed in such recess bymeans of the clamping. member 53. Such clamping. member 53 is provided at its upper end with an inclined engaging surface 57 and at its lower end has a corresponding in- 'clind surface engaging in the recess 58. The bolt 56 through this clamping member 53 and when the i i-such .bolt is tightened it will be seen that the diel usmber 5.4'is held securely in place and is pressed tightly against the block 52. By using blocks 52 of differenti'thicknesses the position of thedie 54 relative to the oscillatory center may be. adjusted. Transverse'adjustment of the cutting die is secured by means of the in Figure 7 in which the plug 59 engages screw'threads upon the under side of the die 54 and upon the upper side of the block 52. The end of the plug 59 engages the shoulder 60 on the die member and such, member may be thereby adjusted transversely of'the arm aiter'wliich the nut on the bolt 56 is tightened to h'old'the die rigidly in place. I

The mechanism for cutting off the finished nipples will now be described, reference being had particularly to Figures 2 and 5. As shown, the carriage K is slidably mounted for movement transversely of the body of the machine and has pivotally secured to its front side the connecting rod 62 pivoted to the top of the opcrating lever 63 which operating lever has at its lower end a roller engaging a cam on the countershait N thereby providing a means for the reciprocation ofth e cutting tools at any desired intervals.. The carriage K supports, as indicated in Figures 14 and 15, two cutting tools 64and 65 which tools. are'removably mounted for replacement, the tool 64 being a diamond point and adapted to bevel off the end of the nipple and the tool 65 being aflat one for finishing the cut and severing the nipple completely. In order to support the threaded portion of the pipe intermedia'te the threading tools and the cutting off tools a sleeve G -is prov'ide d which is supported on the frame A by means of the braclret 66 and is adapted not only to steady the pipe during turning, but also while the threading dies are operating.

In 0 der that the pipe thread may not beinjured-by pressing on the sleeve while rotating therein, means are provided for rotating the sleeve in the same direction and at the same speed'that the pipe is rotating, w hich means comprises a sprocket connection 67 with the shaft 68 which shaftis mounted upon the upper portion -of the frame and carries a pulley 69 having engagement with the shaft 4 by means of the belt 70, (Figure 15.

The stop mechanism H as shown in Figures 2 and,5, will now be described. This'stop mechanism is nertessitated by the fact that the weight feed shown in Figure 10 tends to continuously feed the rodunder the tension of the weight when the clamp G is open, and some means must be provided for limiting the forward mov ement when such opening of .the clamp O occurs. The stop mechanism is mounted upon the-base 71 which base 7]. is slidablymoiinted on the table 72 and is adjustable thereon by means of the set screw 73 whereby any change of pos tion'due to wear may be adjusted, The table 72 which carries both the stop mechanism H.

and the carriage K'is also adjustable as will be noticed from Figure 2, the projection 74 on the bottom ofsuch table engaging the adjusting screw 75 secured to the bracket 76. Extending longitudinally'through the cylindrical top of the part 71 is the stop rod 77 WhiClklS I adapted to engage the end of the pipe and position it when such pipe is fed along by means of the feeding mechanism. If'this rod were not to position the blank until the nipples 'were cut off, it is apparent thatit might be stationary and the cutting off of a nipple by the cutters 64 and 65 would permit the pipe to be advanced exactly a proper distance in order to be positioned for another cutting, butas it is desired to use the stop mechanism for positioning the pipe before such pipe reaches the dutting off mechanism 64-65, means are provided for permitting of the step by step motion.

rearwardlyof the stop rod 77 until the end of such'frod reaches a position at the right of thecutting off mechanism 6465 after which position is reached'such rod is allowed to remain stationary. To accomplish-this result the, rod 77 has secured thereto the stop pin 78 sleeve 79'has a stepped slot 80 along the 'one side,. the

and a rotatable stop sleeve 79 is prdvided, which latter I is shown in detail in Figure 12. Asher'e shown, the

successive steps of such slot being apart the length of a nipple, so that when the stop pin 78 engages successively the different steps the front orpositioning end of tl erod v 77 will be held, successively at varyingpositien's, which positions varyby. the length of a nipple. 3 In order that the projection 78 may-be free from one step to all'ow itto move to the next step, the sleeve 79 must be rotated and means are provided whereby this is -automatically accomplished before the clamp C is open and the blank fed forward. The mechanism consists of a ratchet wheel 81 secured to the sleeve and operable by the pawl 82 carried on the lever 83, which lever 83 is operated by means of the connecting rods 84 and the operating lever 85, engaging at its lower end a cam on the countershaft N. The operation of the pawl 82 will turn the sleeve 79 just far enough at, each movement to allow the pin 78 to disengage itself from the step upon which it is engaged and place it in position to engage the next step and when the smooth portion 86 01' the ratchet wheel is reached by the pawl, the device will of course cease turning and the stop rod 77 will have reached its rearmostposition, at which time the nipples are being cut off by the cutting tools and hence no further retraction of the stop 77 is necessary. In order that the stop 77 may not turn, it is made square in cross section, and fits in a square slot in the member 87, which member has a driving fit in the cylindrical to of the part 71 and hence is not rotatable.

The operation of the machine briefly stated is as follows: A blank pipe having been inserted through the tube 18 in the hollow shaft 4 such pipe is pushed forward until its end is opposite the members E, and engage the end of the stop rod 77, and power is applied to the pulley l on the shaft M thereby driving the gears 2 and 3 and turning the shaft 4 carrying the clamping -members (1 which are in engagement with the pipe, the closing cam 8 being in 'the position shown in Fig. 2. At this time the threading dies upon the oscillatory threading arms D are in position farthest to the right and as the pipe revolves between them these dies are fed gradually to the left by means of their connecting rods 20 being forced to the left by the cam 25 upon the sleeve 26. This threading movement is continuous until a portion of the pipe equal to the distance between the parts Y-Y (Figure 13) is threaded, at which time the dies, because of their curved path swing out of engagement with the pipe. The thrcading dies having passed outot engagement with the blank, such blank is free to be fed forward a step for a newoperation and the jaws (l are released by the actuation of the camming member 8 to the rear by the cam wheel ll and the lever 10, and the feeding rod 12 actuated by its weight pushes the pipe forward a distance equal to the length'of a nipple, at which time it engages the end oi thestop rod 77 During this operation the threading arms are returning to their original position, which operation is permitted by the shape of the cam 25 and by virtue of the weight 23 moving the collar 21 to the left. At this time the supporting members E must be separated in order to allow the threading dies to pass along the pipe without interference, and this is accom plished by the movement ofthc lower end of the lever 4| to the right, thereby allowing the spring 39 (Figure 3) to press the members apart a sufficient distance to allow member 8 which clamp then revolves the pipe between the cutting dies completing the operation as heretofore'set forth. In the meantime the stop 77 has been tioning or the stop sleeve 79 with another step in-line with the pin 78 so that such pin 78 and the stop rod 77 can be moved to 'the rear when the pipe is again advanced by the feeding mechanism. The foregoing operations are repeated until the threaded blank passes through the sleeve G and beyond the cutting tools 6465 on the carriage K, at which time the cam on the countershaft N operating the lever 63 and connecting rod 62 pulls the carriage Kiorwardcutting off a nipple which drops through the machine. The stop slcevo 29 has now been rotated to such an extent that the ratchet wheel 81 secured thereto has its smooth portion 86 opposite the pawl 82 and no further rotation of the sleeve occurs.

Having thus described my. invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by I letters Patent, is the following:- i

1. In combination, a relatively rotatable pipe holder and threading means. said threading means comprising a support, a threading tool mounted thereon to oscillate in an arc longitudinal of t e pipe holder, and means for feeding the threading tool forward and swinglng it reversely to starting position.

2. In combination, a relatively rotatable pipe holder and threading means, said threading means comprising a support, a threading tool mounted thereon to oscillate in 'an arc longitudinal of the pipe holder. means for feeding the threading tool forward and returning-(null means I the holder step by step. a threading tool mounted on the said support for oscillation in an arc longitudinal of the pipe holder, means for feeding the threading: tool forward and returning it. and means whereby the said supporting means may be moved radially to permit the threading tool to clear the pipe during its return stroke.

4. In combination, a relatively rotatable pipc holder and supporting means, a plurality of threading tools mounted on the support about the axis of the pipe holder l'or oscillatory'movement in arcs longitudinal of the axis of the pipe holder, and means for feeding the tools forward and swinging them in a reverse direction to their starting, positions.

5. in combination. a relatively rotatable pipe holder and sectional supporting means. threadingtools mounted on'the supporting means for oscillation in arcs longitudinal of the pipe holder, means for feeding; the threading tools forward and returning them. and means for moving the parts of the sectional supporting means outwardly to permit of such return.

(i. In combination, a rotatable pipe holder. radially inovable supporting means on opposite sides of the axis of the pipe, oscillatory arms lying in planes substantially pnrallel to the axis of the pipe holder and mounted upon such supporting means, threading dies on such arms, means for moving the supporting means in and out, and means for moving the oscillatory arms back and forth.

7. In'comhination, a pair of pivoted supporting members, means for rotating a pipe between the members. means for periodically opening and closing the supporting members, threading members pivoted on each of the supporting members to oscillate in arcs longitudinal of the pipe, and means for feeding the threading members for' ward and returning them.

8. In combination, a pair of pivoted supporting members, means for rotatingn pipe between ,the members, yielding means normally holding the supporting members in open position, means for periodically closing the supporting,' members, threading members pivoted on ench ot the supporting members ,to oscillate in arcs longitudinal of the pipe, and means for feediz the threading members forward and returning them.

9. In combination, a pair of pivoted supporting members, means for rotating a pipe between the members, means for periodically opening'and closing the supporting members, threading members pivoted on each of the sup- I intermediate its ends to the frame and pivoted at one end porting members to oscillate in arcs longitudinal of the to the lower supporting member, and a link extending bepipe, means for feeding the threading members forward tween the upper supporting member and the other end of and returning them, and means for feeding the pipe for the said lever. a ward the length of a nipple during the return movement In testimony whereof, I hereunto sign my name in the 15 of the threading members. presence of the two subscribed witnesses.

10. In combination in a threading machine, a pair of WILLIAM W. DOOLITTLE.

die supporting members pivoted at one end to the frame,

means at the other ends for operating the supporting. 10 means, and balancing means comprising a lever pivoted Witnesses:

PAUL CARPENTER, .Luvms NICHOLAS LORENZ. 

